Community Briefs

The family of Jewish Defense League (JDL) leader Irv Rubin
has filed a $5 million wrongful-death claim against the U.S. government,
stemming from his apparent suicide last November while in federal custody at the
downtown Metropolitan Detention Center.

Prison authorities stated at the time that Rubin, 57, had
slashed his throat with a safety razor and then jumped headfirst over a
railing, plummeting some 18 feet. He died nine days later at Los Angeles
County-USC Medical Center. Rubin's widow, Shelley, and the couple's two sons
rejected the suicide scenario and suggested that the JDL national chairman
might have been murdered.

Rubin and his associate, Earl Krugel, were arrested in
December 2001, charged with conspiring to blow up a Culver City mosque and the
offices of Rep. Darrell E. Issa (R-Vista), who is of Lebanese descent.

In filing the claim against the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and
other federal agencies, attorney Bryan Altman did not raise the issue of foul
play, but charged that Rubin had been negligently supervised and monitored
during his 11-month stay at the detention center.

Altman said that since Rubin's death last Nov. 13, he had
repeatedly petitioned the FBI, U.S. Marshal's Service and prison authorities
for their investigation report on the death, without receiving any response. If
the government rejects the $5 million claim, Altman said he would proceed with
a lawsuit in U.S. District Court.

Twenty-five Shalhevet High School students committed to
helping Israel are planning a carnival and fair to benefit Israeli victims of
terror. The students raised the funds for the carnival, secured sponsorships
from seven leading Jewish organizations, organized the carnival rides and
vendors and marketed the carnival through all the synagogues and temples in Los
Angeles. They also arranged for a seminar on Israel, with speakers from
AIPAC, StandWithUs and the Israeli Consulate, to take place inside the Shalhevet
building at the same time as the carnival.

"There is a very pro-Israel, Zionistic atmosphere in Shalhevet,
and the whole administration is very supportive of the carnival," said Zach
Cutler, a sophomore and the head of the Israel Action Committee. "It is going
to be a full-blown carnival, with slides, rides, a petting zoo, games booths
and a DJ, and even people who don't have kids will enjoy themselves because of
the advocacy aspect. Anyone who is interested in helping Israel is wanted and
welcome there."

The Carnival will take place Feb. 9 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Shalhevet parking lot, 910 S. Fairfax Ave. Admission is $2. Parking
is at Midway Hospital on Olympic Boulevard. -- Gaby Wenig, Contributing Writer

World Marks First Anniversary of
Pearl's Death

The first anniversary of the day the world learned of the
brutal murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl will be marked by
interfaith memorial services throughout the world Feb. 20-24.

"We are urging synagogues to invite neighboring churches,
mosques and other religious institutions to celebrate Danny's spirit and in a
show of solidarity against terror and intolerance," said Dr. Judea Pearl,
Daniel's father.

The elder Pearl will join services in Los Angeles at the Museum
of Tolerance on Feb. 20, in New York at Temple B'nai Jeshurun on Feb. 23 and
in Toronto at Beth Tzedec Synagogue on Feb. 24.

In addition, the Jerusalem Foundation will conduct a
national service in Israel's capital on Feb. 22, organizations in Geneva and Paris
have signified their interest, and Hillel is developing plans for interfaith
services and dialogues on American college campuses. Daniel Pearl, 38, was
kidnapped by Islamic extremists on Jan. 23 of last year while on assignment in Karachi,
Pakistan. His murder was officially confirmed on Feb. 21, the date which now
marks his yahrtzeit.

His family chose interfaith services as the most meaningful
tribute to a man who "was a dialogue maker, always striving to form new
connections among people of different backgrounds," Judea Pearl said. "By
bringing together people of different faiths and uniting them in a common stand
for sanity and humanity, we will be telling Danny, 'You are winning this
battle. Your murderers vowed to spread fear, hatred and anti-Semitism, but
instead your legacy is helping us build trust and understanding to make the world
safer. Your life and your untimely death will make a difference.'"

Last October, to mark what would have been Daniel Pearl's
39th birthday, 105 different concerts in 17 countries were performed as a
tribute to the music-loving journalist.

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